Electrical connectors – Self aligning contact – Contact mounted in floating nonconductive holder
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-16
2001-03-06
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Self aligning contact
Contact mounted in floating nonconductive holder
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196856
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electrical connector assembly comprising a first connector and a second connector matable therewith, the assembly floatably mounted with respect to a device such as a panel to enable adjustment of positional tolerances during coupling.
2. Description of the Prior Art
European Patent 371835, and German Patent DE 3903839, disclose connectors floatably mountable to a panel or support in order to adjust for tolerances in the relative position between connectors to be coupled. In DE 3903839, the connector compensates for angular misalignment in addition to translational misalignment. Adjustment for misalignment is typically required when the connectors are mounted on devices that are assembled together, whereby connector coupling occurs automatically. The devices may be relatively large with respect to the connectors, an example of a potential application being the assembly of automobile body or component parts, such as an automobile chassis to an automobile body or a seat to the bodywork. Assembly of such devices require particularly large absorption of positional tolerances.
In the prior art, it is typical to have a connector with a funnel shaped entry at the mating face for guiding the mating connector. The funnel shaped mating face increases the cross-sectional size of the connector. The larger the required tolerance adjustment, the larger the cross-section. In order to minimise the size of the connector for a given tolerance, it is important to centre the connector on the panel or structure on which it is floatably mounted. In EP 371835 this is achieved by providing elastic foam pads between the connector and panel cutout. Other conventional connectors typically have elastic arms between the connector and panel cutout. A problem with conventional floatable connectors is that the elastic centering means limit floatability of the connector in the direction of coupling and may be damaged after a few mating cycles or otherwise, possible leading to damage of the connector assembly when coupling.
When assembling large devices, mispositioning in the direction of coupling may be quite large. Prior art connector assemblies, such as shown in DE 3903839 do not have the ability to adjust for large tolerances in the mating direction. It would be desirable in certain applications to have large tolerance absorption in the connector mating direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a connector assembly that enables adjustment to large positional tolerances in a reliable manner. It would be advantageous to provide a connector assembly that allows large positional adjustment in the direction of coupling of the connectors and in a plane orthogonal thereto, with respect to devices to which connectors of the assembly are mounted. It would be advantageous to provide a connector assembly that is compact, particularly with respect to a cross-section taken perpendicularly to the connector mating direction.
Objects of this invention have been achieved by a connector assembly comprising a first connector for mating with a second connector in a mating direction, each of the connectors mountable to a support structure whereby the first connector is floatably mountable on its support structure such that the first connector is movable in a plane orthogonal to the mating direction, the connectors being provided with complementary guide means for correctly guiding and locating the connectors during mating, wherein the first connector comprises centering members co-cooperable with complementary centering members of the support structure such that the first connector is located in a centre or neutral position (for example the centre of a cavity or cutout of the support structure) when the first and second connectors are unmated, the centering members disengageable from the support structure when the connector is biased in the mating direction during mating of the second connector with the first connector such that the first connector is floatable with respect to the support structure in the orthogonal plane.
The assembly may further comprise a spring member that biases the first connector in the mating direction with respect to the support structure. When the first and second connectors are unmated, the first connector is resiliently biased into the unmated position where the centering members between the first connector and support structure co-operate to center the first connector. The first connector is provided with retention shoulders that engage the support structure to retain the first connector to the support structure in the unmated position. The centering members of the first connector may be provided on or as extensions of opposed faces of the housing of the connector, in the form of enlargened portions with guide tapers that are insertable into complementary cutouts in the support structure in a snug fit. As the connector is biased from the unmated position in the mating direction during coupling of the connectors, the centering members move out of the complementary cutouts and allow floating movement of the connector within the cutout. The first connector is thus accurately centered with respect to the support structure in the unmated position in a robust and reliable manner. In addition, floatability of the connector in the mating direction is also provided.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5575673 (1996-11-01), Dahlem et al.
patent: 5980290 (1999-11-01), Meynier et al.
patent: 39 03 839-C2 (1989-08-01), None
patent: 0 371 835-B1 (1990-06-01), None
Prasad Chandrika
Sircus Brian
The Whitaker Corporation
LandOfFree
Floating connector assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Floating connector assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Floating connector assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2501508